1995 Caterham 21 vs. 1964 Riley 4
To start off, 1995 Caterham 21 is newer by 31 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1964 Riley 4. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1964 Riley 4 would be higher. At 1,622 cc (4 cylinders), 1964 Riley 4 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1995 Caterham 21 (138 HP) has 71 more horse power than 1964 Riley 4. (67 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1995 Caterham 21 should accelerate faster than 1964 Riley 4. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1964 Riley 4 weights approximately 504 kg more than 1995 Caterham 21.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1995 Caterham 21 (156 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 35 more torque (in Nm) than 1964 Riley 4. (121 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1995 Caterham 21 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1964 Riley 4.
Compare all specifications:
| 1995 Caterham 21 | 1964 Riley 4 | |
| Make | Caterham | Riley |
| Model | 21 | 4 |
| Year Released | 1995 | 1964 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 1622 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 67 HP |
| Torque | 156 Nm | 121 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 79 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 8.3:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 648 kg | 1152 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3810 mm | 4540 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1590 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1070 mm | 1530 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2530 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 54 L | 45 L |
